Subject: Re: Terrance "T-Shirt" Shurn Memorial a Great Success
Subject: Terrance "T-Shirt" Shurn Memorial a Great Success
It was a wonderful afternoon in Benton Harbor with intervals of great sadness. Not
only in mourning for T-Shirt, but for the homeless and mentally ill human beings
roaming the streets.
It's easy to understand why Rev. Pinkney has a tone of desperation and urgency in
his voice at times. Almost unfathomable is the inhumane cruelty of one of the world's
wealthiest corporations letting this happen within mere blocks of their headquarters.
The argument can be made that it's happening because of the corporation's outsourcing.
Would they EVER let this happen in St. Joe? (you can answer...)
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Many thanks to all who attended the the Terrance "T-Shirt" Shurn Memorial Rally last
Saturday. It marked the 8 year anniversary of the BH uprising, a public response
to the June 16, 2003 high-speed Benton Township police chase resulting in the death
of Terrance "T-Shirt" Shurn.
During the course of the afternoon there were between 200 and 300 people listening
to speakers and bands, and partaking of the catered food. Rev. Pinkney read a poem
he wrote for T-Shirt, What Is Next? An inspiring speech was given by Fred Hampton
Jr. from Chicago, some highlights of which are at the end of this report. The rap
group Stargang performed an excellent original song. Ellis Bethea sang (beautifully)
We Are America with input from recorded Rachel Maddow talking about BH - unusual
to say the least! Two other bands were Big Dudee Roo and Chicago blues band, Amoree.
Rev. P. led the audience in 3 minutes of silence, a very simple but very moving tribute
to T-Shirt.
Law enforcement profiling and brutality, Whirlpool land grab and destruction, Whirlpool
outsourcing of jobs to Mexico, and state takeover of BH are all actions which oppress
residents. Pinkney spoke about this, and took the opportunity to educate. He said
the dictatorship called Emergency Financial Management is facism. Whirlpool has been
systemically destroying the city and driving citizens out; the new governor Rick
"the Ricktator" Snyder is now assisting the corporation as did the former gov., Jennifer
Granholm.
Other points made by Pinkney:
--Gone is democratic self-rule in BH. Almost gone is collective bargaining. Public
discourse is minimized as local elected officials are stripped of authority. The
EFM, Joseph Harris, can: remove elected officials without permission from the people,
disburse all state-fed.-local funds without oversight, reject-modify-or-terminate
any contract, sell off local gov. property, borrow money, and ignore notice requirements
for the public in the adoption of ordinances.
--12,600 families will be thrown off welfare rolls on Oct. 1. They also lose health
insurance and food stamps. Every month thereafter more families will be eliminated.
If you have been on welfare for 3 years, you have just 1 year left.
Several of many points made by Fred Hampton Jr.:
--oppression is embarrassing.
--what they have in mind for our "new housing" is either the penitentiary or the
graveyard.
--gentrification = land grab.
--it's important to distinguish between the ability to articulate and intelligence.
--the will of the people is greater than everything else including technology and
politicians.
He stated that he's been struggling with law enforcement since before he was born.
During the violent Chicago police death of his father, a cop put a gun to the pregnant
mid-section of his mother. (She was pregnant with Fred Jr.)
In talking privately with Hampton, it was learned that his family is guarding the
legacy of his father to maintain it's integrity. There are two places on facebook
where this information can be accessed: The Real Chairman Fred Sr. and Who We Be
POCC. Type in Fred Hampton Jr. at youtube.com for speeches by him.
On Satursday we register more than 400 hundred people.We now have a total of 700
.Our goal is two thousand young voter.
Every Sunday on blogtalkradio.com/rev Pinkney at 5 pm eastern time
Fred Hampton Jr. will be our quest sunday.do not miss it.
bhbanco.org
Call Rev. Pinkney anytime
269-925-0001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2011
Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Further Restricts Access to Jean Klock Park
Contact Carol Drake, Friends of Jean Klock Park
cdrake@savejeanklockpark.org
(269) 925-7598
Joseph Harris, Benton Harbor City’s Emergency Manager, has issued ORDER NO.: 11-11,
limiting the times and dates that Jean Klock Park (JKP) will be open. The new hours
are between 10:00 am till 10:00 pm, and the new dates are May 1st through September
30th. This order not only violates and conflicts with the Klock Deed but also with
the 2004 Consent Judgment, the City Charter, the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Act, and the lease agreement between the City and Harbor Shores. This order is another
step in the systematic loss of access to the park for the citizens of Benton Harbor
and general public.
“I am outraged that I have been stripped of my right to use my city park in the early
morning summer hours, the time that I most enjoy the park”, said Clellen Bury, lifetime
resident of Benton Harbor. “I will be equally enraged if the park will be closed
at all other times during the year except for the newly found tourist season. The
Klock deed states that the park ‘at all times shall be open for the use and benefit
of the public’. The City Charter mandates that the park must be open between the
hours of 7:00 am and 11:00 pm daily.
Mr. Bury addressed his displeasure regarding the new order in a letter to Mr. Harris
dated June 7th which included further concerns about future access issues that undoubtedly
will occur during the upcoming Whirlpool Steelhead Ironman Triathlon and the KitchenAid
sponsored 2012 Senior PGA. Mr. Bury did not receive a response from Mr. Harris to
his letter (attached).
Carol Drake, who along with Mr. Bury is a founder of the Friends of Jean Klock Park
has additional concerns. “Not only have the citizens of Benton Harbor lost their
right to have representation by their elected officials, but they are also gradually
losing the historical access to and use of their public parkland. They have no input.
Through his sole jurisdiction JosephHarris has eroded the rights and privileges
of the citizens. Is this being done to deprive the residents of access or is there
another motive such as future privatization?”